Woman of Style: Jacqe Yuengtian climbs the corporate ladder, one high-heeled step at a time

MANILA, Philippines - Quantity,” Jacqe Yuengtian says of her shopping pri-orities, “definitely quan-tity over quality.” “I don’t like to repeat clothes,” says Jacqe (pronounced Jack, short for Jacqueline). The 26-year-old has plenty of reasons as to why her closet runneth over. As one of Pond’s youngest senior brand managers, she spends most of her time at events launching some serum or other products or running from meeting to meeting. At work, casual Friday goes for every day of the week at the Unilever office but the fashion-conscious executive, who credits her friend, stylist Sidney Yap, with opening her up to new trends, prefers to wear her heels to work. “I still want to make an impression,” she says.

It’s a swift turnabout for the self-confessed tomboy who was more impressed with playing with friends than getting all dolled-up.

But change plays a big part in Jacqe’s life. The St. Jude High School alum and Ateneo grad swiftly climbed the ranks at Unilever, graduating from Clear, which she helped launch, to one of the most established beauty brands in the globe. (Fun fact: Pond’s is currently part of a pivotal plot in the current season of Mad Men).

Philippine STAR talks beauty, brains and what goes into selecting the next Pond’s endorser.

Philippine Star: Tell us a secret about the beauty business that most lay people don’t know.

Jacqe Yuengtian: Oh, I was really shocked to find out after a series of product tests that some prestige cream jar brands (P5,000-plus) are just at parity with some drugstore cream brands (P500-plus). I really didn’t believe it was true until I saw the test results and it really shows that the level of efficacy — be it for whitening or anti-aging — is just the same. This is really good news for a lot of women as we don’t have to spend so much to get the beauty results that we want.

Take us through your skincare regimen.  

I am a big believer in Pond’s Age Miracle (PAM). I use PAM facial wash, PAM day cream and PAM eye cream. This is my favorite Pond’s product as it already acts like a concealer. Then I use PAM serum and PAM night cream each night. When I plan to put on makeup then I use the PAM serum as a primer as it evens out my skin. I’m also a big fan of Dove exfoliating body wash which I use every day and I don’t forget to put lotion on to moisturize. 

What are beauty products you can’t live without?

Pond’ s Age Miracle day cream with SPF 15 and dual eye cream. Mac Studio Fix foundation. Mally blushes and lipgloss. Charm makeup brushes.  Dove exfoliating body wash and cream oil.

Best beauty advice you’ve ever received?

Drink lots of water and make sure you wash your face every night even if you feel so tired and lazy! Because if you don’t you’ll pay for it with a zit the next day!  

How would you describe the Filipina’s notion of beauty?

In my line of work, it’s my job to know and understand what makes Filipinas feel beautiful. The most important realization I had is that Filipinas feel most beautiful when they’re happy — there’s a different glow that radiates! As clichéd as it sounds, beauty really starts from within and beauty products serve as the complement to enhance their overall self-image.

Are the local market’s beauty-buying habits vastly different from our Asian neighbors? What about our western counterparts?

In some ways, Filipinos are more conservative versus some of our Asian neighbors like Thailand and Korea. Filipinas are less experimental and normally stick to facial wash, toners and moisturizing products. Koreans, on the other hand, use the whole regimen — day cream, night cream, eye cream, serum, masks and more. We’re still in the puberty stage of beauty innovations but we’re quickly getting there. Beauty brands now are heavily investing in R&D to offer Filipinas the best skincare solutions.

What do Filipinas put a premium on, beauty-wise?  

Products that offer even skin tone and younger-looking skin. More importantly they also give importance to products that fight certain skin concerns such as under-eye circles, pigmentation and wrinkles. Filipinas are willing to pay for results.

What goes into selecting a Pond’s endorser? 

First of all, she needs to be a fan and a real user of Pond’s products. The power of the endorser lies in her credibility in sharing her experience with the benefits of our product. Carla Abellana, our latest endorser, has been a Pond’s facial wash user since she was in high school and continues to be an avid fan of the Pond’s White Beauty creams until now. She also has to be relatable and aspirational to our target market.

Did you personally have any dreams of working in the beauty business as a kid?

 I honestly didn’t imagine myself to be working in the beauty business! I was such a tomboy when I was a kid, I loved playing outdoors — touch taya, patintero, rollerblading, taguan — with my neighbors and I really did not have much fashion sense — I even have ugly photos to prove it! (Laughs). So I’m really still in awe now of all the fashion and beauty trends that I learn about every day. It keeps me excited and passionate about my work.

At 10, what did you dream of accomplishing?

At 10, I just wanted my mom to stop making me sleep in the afternoon so I could have more time to play! (Laughs). Back then I wanted to be able to travel the world because when we did our family vacations, I was always envious of the stewardess because she got to travel for free! So I wanted to be taller and be a stewardess!

At 26, are you any closer to accomplishing your goals? 

I actually am very satisfied with my job now. It keeps me excited, challenged and motivated plus it gives me the opportunity to travel the world. I’m happy with how my career is progressing and I manage to have a balanced life so yes, I am closer to achieving my life goals.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

In 10 years, I’ll be happily married with two kids — a boy and a girl. Probably have a beach house for long weekends and holidays.

You’ve accomplished quite a bit for your age. What’s the key to speedy upward mobility?

It’s a mix of good opportunities, hard work and staying positive. Unilever has been very good to me in assigning me brands that really developed my skills as a marketer. Don’t be afraid to take on big responsibilities because it’s only when you’re challenged that you learn to beat your limitations. I was part of the team that launched Clear in the Philippines and that was a huge responsibility but more importantly it was a good learning ground for me to put into practice the 360 degrees of marketing. It’s key to remember though that your career is not a race, it’s a marathon of learning, making mistakes and achieving success.

What are the elements of good brand management?

I value three things. Understanding your consumers and mining good insights. Thinking big and being action-oriented. Attention to detail and good project management.

What do you know now about leadership and business that you didn’t know before you worked for Unilever? 

Working for a company like Unilever means that you have a hand in the lives of other people. What I didn’t realize was that growing the business doesn’t only mean achieving my targets but it’s also about giving more job opportunities to our fellow Filipinos. That for me is the true purpose of leadership in this business.

What, in your opinion, makes you a good brand manager?

I was lucky to have good mentors in Unilever that taught me to dream big, challenge the status quo, work hard and aim only for the best. I am also extremely passionate about the brands that I’ve handled — from Sunsilk to Clear to Pond’s. I use it, I breathe it, I talk about it and I even dream about it! The key is to love your brand and treat it as your own business so you have a personal stake in its success. Being excited about your brand enables you to be much more creative and launch more innovative campaigns!

How has your taste evolved since childhood?

I used to have a formula on what I would wear: shirt, shorts or denims and flats — more of the comfortable outfits for everyday school. Now, it’s more corporate fashionable chic since I’m in the beauty industry and representing a beauty brand. I’ve honestly been influenced by my childhood friend, stylist Sidney Yap. He showed me the transformative quality of fashion — how you can have a different persona every time you dress up! Now I’m much more open to trying different trends and looks.

Define your personal style. 

Styling for me is a personal statement. I like simple and feminine outfits that are not very flamboyant. I like structured pieces for evening or formal wear and I usually stick to the classics but with a twist. For every day, I wear whatever I feel is comfortable and outfits that make me feel more confident and beautiful. I’m also open to trying new trendy pieces and to mix and match classics with some edgy accessories.

What are the elements of a stylish wardrobe?

For me, it’s good to have a few investment pieces like good shoes, bags and dresses. You need to have a lot of classics and basics you’re comfortable wearing. Maybe a few trendy pieces. And of course, don’t forget to invest in stylish accessories to glam up your look! 

Who are the best-dressed women of Manila?

Rissa Mananquil, Mai Kaufmann and Divine Lee are, for me, some of the best dressed in Manila. They’re very up-to-date with the recent trends but they also mix it up with classic pieces that look very sophisticated. They also know what outfits best suit them so they exude an aura of confidence that glams up their look even more.

What was your biggest fashion moment?

Pond’s red dress collection during fashion week. Walking the stage with the models wearing an Ivar Aseron dress made me realize what it’s like to be part of the fashion industry.

First thing you spent your first paycheck on?

I was very thrifty before. I think I saved it in the bank!  

What was your first designer purchase?

LV mini Lin bag.

What is your no-fail outfit?

Shift dress and Stella Luna flats.

Whose closet would you most like to raid?

 Victoria Beckham! She’s the ultimate classic with an edge!

What do you feel best wearing? 

A dress with a good silhouette and pumps.

What’s your most recent purchase?

A Debbie Co peach dress.

Your fave place to shop? 

Internationally, it’s Zara, H&M, Topshop, Bershka and BCBG. I also love to find good finds in Bangkok. Locally, I love Plains & Prints since they really have good office clothes, which I can also wear for evening dates.

What is your latest purchase you are in love with?

Purple Rimowa luggage from Adora that I use everywhere I travel.

What three pieces define your everyday style? 

A dress, necklace and pumps.

Local designers you admire?

Francis Libiran and Ivarluski Aseron. Both are really masters of tailoring. Ivar’s dresses have simple silhouettes, unexpected slits and precision-cuts that skims the body.

Francis’s dresses always have impeccable tailoring and it always manages to make any girl look 10 pounds thinner!

Foreign?

Monique Lhuillier and Stella McCartney. I like Monique’s romantic yet modern silhouettes. She mixes up the traditional elements with modern twists. I like Stella because she’s really a visionary and very innovative. She has a way of making something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Is there an item in your closet you cherish the most?

My Stella Luna flats that are sooo comfortable.

Do you have any fundamental rules of dressing?

Dressing nicely does wonders for your confidence, so don’t be afraid to dress up! Accessorizing always glams up your outfit! 

Most unforgettable present you’ve received? 

A surprise birthday party.

Favorite fashion quote?

“There are no ugly women in the world, only lazy ones.” From Coco Chanel. 

Who, in your opinion, is emblematic of classic style?

Vogue’s Anna Wintour. She has her signature style that’s very sophisticated. Her style also transcends time, when you look at her photos 10 years ago they still look very relevant today.

What’s your idea of a perfect pair of shoes? 

Four-inch pumps that are comfortable.

Celebrity crush?

Derek Ramsay!

Three desert island picks?

iPod with battery-operated charger, Dan Ariely book and someone to talk to.